Luminescent sign



May 26,1936. A |NE 2,042,144

LMINESCENT SIGN Filed Dec. 22, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet l Q Q@ IPI 1 l I III'IIIIIII|IIII..II|II.IIIIIH3 Ham/d 67 H. Al CLINE LUMINESCENT SIGNI Filed DeC. 22, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Srwentor May 26, 1936. l H. A. CLINE 2,042,144

LUMINESCENT SIGN Filed Deo. 22, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 (Ittorneg May 26, 1936. I H, A, @UNE a 2,042,144

LUMINESCENT S IGN Filed Dec. 22, 1934l e sheetssheet 4` F/. 27! F/. est

Bg #1959040 f7. cac/NE f//ls Gttorne'g May 26,1936. HA. CUNE 2,042,144

LUMINESCENT SIGN Filed Deo. 22, 1934 6 SheetS-Sheet 5 /aa 'I May 26, 1936. A CLlNE 2,042,144

. LUMINESCENT SIGN Filed Deo. 22, 1934 6 SheetS-Sheet /f/'s (Ittorneg Patented May 26, 1936 Harold A. Cline, Dayton, Ohio,l assignor of iifty per cent to Clyde D. Cline, Chicago, Ill.

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in luminescent signs, and, particularly to that type Vof sign using a luminous gas, such as neon v f contained within a tube or tubes. However it is notk intended to limit this invention to' the use of neon gas, as other typesof luminous gas may be used without in any way departing from the spirit of this invention. Many neon signs used principally for advertising are now on the market in general use. However the usual sign of several letters is made by one -continuous tube forming the word ory words of the sign'. In this type of continuous tubel it is 4necessary to block out the tubes between the letters` land also between the words with an opaque material to separate the letters from each other and to make them readable.

"Such types of sign are extremely limited to the specific use for which they are originally made,

and ,for this reason cannot be used very exten-4 sively for advertising, since when once formed for aspecific use they are absolutely unchangeable,

I'ence theaters cannot use them in their marquees or canopies, cron building fronts, to-advertise the plays or pictures showing in such theaters.l This oi course is due to the fact that the plays and pictures, especially the latter are usually changed either weekly or semi-weekly. Therefore; it

wouldbe very impractical and expensive to have new neon signs manufactured for each change of program. A

fj Likewise, merchants'cannot use such signs vfor advertising due to the many various types of a'r'ticles sold and to constantly changingprices.

It is, therefore, an objectof Athe present invention tofprovide a neonv or other luminous gas,

type of sign rcomprising a plurality of interchangeable letters, characters, numbers, hiero- 'gbrphica and non-luminous members, whereby ahy desired wording or numbering may be readily displayed to advertise whatever a merchant may wish to emphasize, or whatever program a theater managerA may wish to get before the public.

'Itis another obiect'of ,this invention to make such letters, numbers, characters, hieroglyphics and non-luminous ,memlera of the novel luminous sign.' `mounted wholly independently o nefrom the other, whereby any one of them may i j b e changed' or replaced without eiecting` anyv other one; l Y

Another object of this invention is to produce such signs at a comparatively low cost.

Another object .of the present invention is to pr `ovide the luminous gas tube characters, numbersr letters with a substantial individual car-y Appiication December zz, 19354, serial No. 758,713

rier or support all of which have certain common characteristics thereby rendering them easily shiftable from any one position to any other posi' tion to lcreate new and different word displays as the occasion demands.` y

` .A further object is to provide such individual carriers in such forms that when they are placed in position inthe composite sign, said carriers will display an outline corresponding to the letter, number, or character tube which they sup- 10 y port.

A still further object is to provide a main panel -or plate for a sign, said panel carrying electrical terminal sockets spaced at regular intervals, and also having a supporting means and a guiding .i5 means to receiveindivdual interchangeable let-.- ters, numbers, characters, and non-luminous members, the latter wherever necessary to separate words of a sign.

Another. object is to provide the above men- 20 tioned guiding means with locating means arranged at regular intervals whereby the characters of a sign -will always bel accurately spaced. v

Another object is to provide a novel and positive means for locking the non-luminous'member 25 orcircuitcarrir, and also a positive locating means for said non-luminous member.

Still another object is to provide each terminal socket with a novel cover to protect it from the rain and weather.

kAnother object isto' provide-the above mentioned cover with a conductingmember to complete the circuit from the character electrodes to the terminal sockets.

A further object of the present invention is tov 5 provide a novel sign of the luminous gas type having luminous gas characters mounted wholly independently from each other -but being connected in electrical vseries as they are inserted inv position in the sign.v 40

With these andincidental objects in view the invention consists of, certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elementsof which are set forth in appended claims, and a preferred formof. embodiment Whichv is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part ofthis specification. v

Ofsaid drawings:I N iglig 1 is a top plan view of a portion of the novel 50 Fig. 2 shows in sign.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of Fig. 2 withl certain parts broken away forclearness. i

front elevation, two sections of. a

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top view,

partly in section, showing the non-luminous memy ber or special circuit carrier in position on the main panel.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the panel and assembled circuit carrier or nonluminous member.

Fig. 6 is an edge View of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail top view of the circuit carrier.

Fig. 8 is a front view of said carrier.

Fig. 9 is an edge View of said carrier.

Fig. 10 shows enlarged front and edge views of the terminal socket cover.

Figs. 11, 11a and 11b show a front elevation, a side elevation, and a top plan view, respectively, of a tube of luminous gas representing a hyphen or dash.

Figs. 12, 12a and 12b to Figs. 37, 37a and 37b inclusive, show front elevations, side elevations and top plan views, respectively, of the letters of the alphabet formed of tubes containing luminous gas, and include the tube carrier or supporting plate for each letter. i

Figs. 38, 38a and 38h show a front elevation, a side elevation and a top plan view, respectively, of the character representing, and

Figs. 39, 39a and 39h to Figs. 46, 46a and 461) inclusive, show front elevations, side elevations and top plan views, respectively, of numbers.

Figs. 47, 47a and 47h inclusive, show a front elevation, a side elevation and a top plan view respectively, of a question mark.

Generally As stated at the outset this invention is particularly adapted foruse by theater owners and merchants to advertise their programs and Wares, Y

respectively.

' The panel carrying the character4 supports and many theaters the words and characters of which signs are formed by electric light bulbs covered with a so called opalite or white glass the present invention is far superior in many respects. Such signs become very hot due to the retained heat from the electric bulbs with the result that many bulbs burn out during the course of a month. The opalite covers do not permit thatv heat to escape. Moreover 'such signs are very diiiicult to change and also require much more time to change than do the characters ofthe present invention.

'Some of the-present day theaters have a single panel marquee while others have two, three and four panel marquees. In Figs. 2 and 3 a. double panel marquee is represented generally by the dot-and-dash lines, in which double marquee is installed applicants novel sign comprising panels with their supports and guides for the neon or other luminous gas letters and characters.

Thesepanels-:are so constructed that the letters, characters or non-luminous members can be assembled only in-their proper positions depending upon the words to be used in the ad.-

vertising display. As the last letter or circuit carrier of a panel is inserted in position the letters in said panel are lighted as the last one inserted completes the series circuit.

A transformer supplies the necessary high voltage and high potential energy for each set or unit of letters on each panel. Usually one transformer is used for each panel. The transformer used is merely connected into the standard lighting current on the input side and provides the necessary voltage for the lamps at the output.

Detail description 'may be made of steel and insulated from the marquee. if desirable or if insurance underwriters require it. .The panel may also be made of insulating material if desirable. The size of the panel depends wholly upon the place where it is to beused. The thickness also depends upon the same thing.

.Secured to the panel 6| (Figs. 2 to 6) by any suitable means is a channel bar 62 the front side 63V of which forms one side of a guiding channel, the rear side of which is formed by the curved bar 64 secured to the base of the bar 62. 'I'his bar 62 acts as a support for the characters. 'Ihe rear side 65 of the bar 62 provides the means of attachment to the panel 6l. 'Ihe channel bar 62 and the bar 64 extend the full length of the panel 6I.

Secured to the panel 6| (Fig. 3) near the top thereof is a channel bar 66 the rear side 61 of which affords the means of securing said bar 66 to said panel 6I. vThefront side 68 of the bar 66 acts as one' side of a guiding channel for the letters and characters to be later described. The lower portion of the side 68 is flared to form a guide 69 to aid in the insertion of the letters and characters in the sign. The side 68 and guide 69 also act to conceal certain parts of the letter carriers, so that the latter display an outline corresponding tothe letter which they carry.

An angle bar 10 -secured to the bar 86 forms the rear side of the guiding channel for the letters and characters. 'I'he bar 10 is also flared to form a guide. 1l to also aid in the insertion of the letters and characters in the sign.

The bar 10 carries studs12 (Figs. 1 to 3) which are spaced at regular intervals for accurately locating the letters in the sign relatively to each other and also relatively to the electrical sockets to be later described. The channel bar 62 has secured to the base and extending the length thereof, a curved bar 13 (Figs. 2.and 4 to 6) the purpose of which will be later described. 'Ihe rear side 65 of the bar 62 is provided at regular intervals with notchesA 14 the function of which will be later described. The channel bars 62 and 66 are connected at their ends by a bar 15 (Figs. land 3) only one of which is shown,'the guide 69 being cutaway as at 16 to provide clearance for said bar 15.

Terminal socket and comen- Terminal sockets 85 (Figs. 1 to 6) made preferably of porcelain are carried by the main panel 6|, which panel is provided with openings 66 to receive tenon ends 81 of the sockets 85. A shoulder 88 on each socket 85 limits the insertion of the sockets and provides means for gripping clips 89 (Fig. 4) by means of which the sockets 85 may be held in their places.

Each socket 85 has a binding post or terminal bolt 90 (Figs. 1, 3, 4, '5 and 6) secured in place by nuts 9| between which is secured one end of a conductor wire 92. Under the head of the bolt 90 is secured one end of a conductor wire 93 which is connected to a very light conductor spring 94 (Figs..3 and 6).` The conductors 92 electrically connect adjacent pairs of sockets 85.

A cover 95 (Figs. 6 and 10) made of ilexible material, such as rubber and having a rolled edge 96 is adaptedto be stretched over the tenon end 81 of the socket 85 to prevent rain and moisture from getting inside the socket 85. This cover is however not essential to the proper functioning of this invention and may b e omitted if desired. On opposite sides of the center part of the cover 95 are metal disks 91 and 98. These disks are secured to the cover by a rivet 99 or any other suitable means, such as a screw.

The end coil of the spring 94 is in constant contact with the disk 91 and the rivet 99 completes the circuit from the disk 91 to the disk 98. Should the cover 95 not be used then the spring 94, that is, the end coil thereof is directly contacted by the electrodes on the letters and by the contact ends of the circuit carrier or non-luminous member, later described.

When the cover 95 is used, which is preferable on outside signs. then the electrodes on the letters and the contact ends on the circuit carrier contact the disk 98 when said letters and carriers are in positions in the sign. When the cover l95 is stretched over the tenon 81 said cover is flat or straight as shown in Fig. 10, and the end coil of the spring 94 touches the disk 91. However when the letter or circuit carrier is inserted their electrodes and contact members respectively, force the disks 91 and 98 inwardly to the position shown in Figs'. 1, 3 and 6 thus stretching the cover- 95.

Circuit carrier o1: non-luminous member.-A circuit carrier, designated lgenerally by the number |00, is shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 9 and in functioning position in the sign in Figs. 1 to 6. This carrier |00 (Figs. 7 to 9) is comprised of a support plate |0| the bottom edge of which may be bevelled or rounded as shown. 'Ihis plate |0| has openings |02 to reduce the weight. Secured to the plate |0| by screws |03 or any other suitable means is a bar |04 of insulating material such as bakelite. This bar |04 has arms |05 each having either screwed or driven in the ends thereof, a metal contact member |06 preferably with rounded ends. Preferably molded in the bar |04 and its arms |05 is a conductor wire |01 the ends of which are contacted by the ends of the contact members |05 when the latter are eitherv screwed or driven in the ends of the arms |05.

To properly locate the carrier |00 and also to retain it in position in the sign, there is secured to the plate |0| an arm |08 having a downwardly projecting nger |09 adapted to enter the notch 14 in the side 65 of the channel bar 62- behind the bar 13.

To place'the carrier |00 in functioning position, the contact members |06 are placed against the disks 98 and the latter are forced inwardly until the plate |0| is above the channel formed by the side 63 and bar 64 at which time the nger |09 is above the notch- 14. The carrier is then lowered until the plate |0| rests between the side 63 and bar 64 which lowering simultaneously enters the nger |09 'in the notch 14 between the panel 6| and retaining bar 13. the latter acting to maintain the carrier |00 in its proper circuit completing, position shown in Figs. 1 to 6.

Letters, numbers and characters-'The letters of the alphabet are illustrated in Figs. 12, 12a and 12b to 37, 37a and 37b inclusive, thenumbers are shown in Figs. 39, 39a and 39h to 46, 46a and 46h inclusive, and some 4special characters are shown in Figs. 11,'11a, 11b, 38, 38a, 3817, 47, 47a and 47h. While these letters and numbers are shown as of the block type,v it is to be clearly understood that other types of letters and numbers may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Each letter is formed by a glass tube |20 (Figs. 12J 12a and 12b) containing neon gas or any other suitable luminous gas. bular letter, number or character is `the usual electrode |2| represented by the enlarged ends.

These electrodes carry a conductor wire'l22 whichv extends into the tube to conduct the current to and from the gas to cause the same to become luminous. The ends of the tubes |20 vare all terminated exactly the same distance apart and substantially on a line witl` the lowermost section of the letter, number or characterthe only exception in the illustrations being in the hyphen or dash. However the electrode ends of the dash have exactly the respective locations as the electrode ends of the letters and numbers.

Each tube |20 is supported by a plate |23 having the same front elevational outlineI as its associated character. These support plates |23 have On the ends of each tuopenings |24 located indifferent positions therein depending upon the shape of the letter or character. In some cases the opposite electrode ends of the tubes |20 naturallylfall at the bottoms'of the letters, but in others to eliminate many bends and "double tubes in front of the plates |23the openings |24 may be at the tops of the'letters as shown in Figs. 17 and 20 or said openings may have other convenient locations -as shown in Figs. 18, 21, 27, 40, 43 and 46. lin some instances there may be need of. only a single opening |24, which however is larger to permit the entry of two tubes, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 26 and 45.

The tubes |20 are retained in position relative to the plates |23`by the usual glass tubes |25 (one only of which is shown in Fig. 12) held to the plate |23 by the usual clip |26 and fastened to the tube 20 by a small wire' |21.

The electrode ends 2| are spaced on all letters, numbers, and characters to` match'the locations of the sockets 85, thus making anyr letter, number or character interchangeable lwith any other letter, number or character from that standpoint.

Each letter, number and character plate |23 has a projecting base or bases |28, depending upon the shape of the letter, number or character with which it is associated. This base-or these' bases |28, when the letter is in position, rests in the channel between the side 63 and bar 64 as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

Each plate |23also has an upward projection or arm |29 having a slot. |30. 'I'his slot |30 in each plate |23 has exactly the same location relative to the bottom of the base or bases |28 and relatively to the vertical center of each plate tively to the sockets 85 and relatively to each other, thus producing a sign having evenly spaced l characters, letters or numbers. By referring to Figs. 11 to 47 yit will be noticed that the arms |29 have various shapes which is controlled by the shape of the associated letter.

All portions of the tubes 20 which are to be blocked out with an opaque material are shown shaded by section lines'.

The 'arms |29, when the letters, numbers and characters are in functioning position in the sign are all hidden from view by the sides 68 and guide 69 and the bases |28 are all hidden from view by the side 63 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The only exception to the above is in the case of the hyphen. However its long base |28 and long arm |29 may be colored the same as the front of the panel 6I to render them practically invisible.

To remove a letter or character, all that is necessary is to raise the same, clearance being provided in the slot |30, until the base is above the side 63 after'which the letter is tilted outl retained in position.'

In Figs. 2 and 3 are shown several letters |20 and circuit carriers |00 illustrating the use of the circuit carrier |00 and clearly showing the interchangeability of all letters to form any de- -sired sign for a-theater program or to advertise a merchants wares.

Circuits-As before stated the letters on each panel are in electrical series and for each panel there is usually provided a transformer, shown -only in Fig. 1.

ductors from the usual house current lines to a Lines |35 and |36 represent -1- and input conconductor 92, through nextour pairs of sockets .85 and tubes |20 in order, to conductor |39 back to opposite side of transformer |31.

While the form' of device herein shown is ad- `mirab1y adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the one form of embodiment herein shown, for it is susceptible of embodiment irl-various forms, all coming Within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimedis:

1. A sign including a plurality of individually removable and interchangeable luminous gas characters comprised of tubes of luminous gas, the tubes having a pair of terminal electrodes; terminal sockets wired in series; exible and waterproof covers for said sockets; conductor members in said covers to cooperate with said terminal electrodes and the socket terminals; means for supply the necessary electrical energy; and a degas tube characters having electrodes to cooperate with said sockets to complete the series cir- `vcuit; carriers for said characters; means interchangeable with any character in any position to complete the series circuit upon the omission of any character in any position, an overhanging channel carried by said main member; character locating means therein; an upturned channel carried by said main 'member for supporting said character carriers; and a device carried by said upturned channel for retaining said interchangeable means in any position in which it is adapted to be used.

3. A sign including a `main member having a plurality of electrical terminal sockets wired in series circuit; means for supplying electrical energy; a plurality of interchangeable luminous gas characters and non-luminous means to -complete the series circuit to form the si n as desired; means common to all characterv and nonluminous means for supporting the same in deflnite positions in one direction relative to the terminal sockets; means common to all characters for supporting the same in definite positions in another direction relative to said sockets; and means for retaining said non-luminous means in definite 'positions in the last named direction re1- ative to said sockets.

4. A sign including a main member having a plurality of electrical terminal sockets wired in series circuit; means for supplying electrical energy; av plurality of interchangeable luminous gas characters and non-luminous means to complete the series circuit to form the sign as desired; means common to all characters and non-luminous for supporting the same in denite positions in one direction relative to the terminal sockets; means common to all characters for supporting the same in denite positions in another direction relative to said sockets; a projecting member on said non-luminous means; and means carried by the first mentioned common means and cooperating with said projecting member in any position in which said non-luminous means may be used.

5. A sign including a plurality of individually removable and interchangeable luminous gas charv acters; electrical means including a series circuit for rendering said characters effective; non-luminous means interchangeable with any of said characters and adaptedto be used in combination therewith to complete the electrical circuit; supporting means' common to said characters and non-luminous means; means forretaining said characters in definite positons relative to each other; and means including a projecting finger on said non-luminous means, a notched member and a bar covering the sides of the notches for retaining said non-luminous means in definite positions relative to said characters.

6. A sign including a plurality` of individually removable and interchangeable luminous gas characters; electrical means including a series bination therewith to complete the electrical circuit; carrying means for each character to which each is attached, said carrying means having bases of diierent formations and having arms of different formations, said arms each having an aperture, the formations of the bases and arms depending upon the formations of the characters which the carrying means has attached to it; guiding means cooperating with said arms; and devices in the guiding means cooperating with the apertures in said arms to maintain all characters in definite positions relatively to each other.

7. A luminous gas sign including a main member having a plurality of electrical terminal sockets; a plurality of individually removable luminous gas characters having electrodes to cooperate with pairs of said sockets; character plates having arms and bases of varying shapes depending upon the characters; a common supporting means for al1 characters to maintain said characters in definite positions relatively to said sockets and to conceal the bases of the character plates when the characters are in position; and guiding means common to all characters to also maintain said characters in,4 denite positions relatively to l said sockets and to conceal the arms of said character plates when said characters are in position.

8. A luminous gas sign including a main member having a plurality ofelectrical terminal sockets; flexible socket covers having conductor cencharacters inpdenite positions relatively to saidy sockets in another direction.

9. A luminous gas sign including a'main member having a plurality of electrical terminal p sockets; a flexible cover for each socket, said cover, having electrical conducting means near the central position thereof; a plurality of individually` removable and interchangeable luminous gas characters having electrodes to cooperate'with the conducting means of said covers; a device carried by the main member and common to all characters, said device having a channel to support 'said characters in definite positions in one direction relatively to said sockets; and means carried by the main member to guide said characters in deflnite positions in another direction relatively to said sockets.

10. A circuit carrier comprising a plate; an insulating member secured thereto, said member having a plurality of projections, said member and projections carrying a continuous electrical conductor; contacts secured in the` ends of said projections; means integral with said plate for supporting said carrier; and a device secured to said means for retaining the carrier in lposition. 25

11. A circuit carrier comprising a plate; an insulating member secured thereto, said member having a plurality of projecting arms, said member and arms carrying a continuous electrical conductor; contacts secured in the ends of said arms; means on the plate for supporting said carrier; and a `device projecting laterally from said means and having a nger parallel to said means. f 12. A luminescent sign including a plurality of individually removable and interchangeable luminous gas characters; and non-luminous members, said members each including s insulating member carrying a concealed electrical conductor, a pair of contact members, and a supporting plate having secured thereto a. laterally and downwardly projecting finger coacting with said sign to retain said non-luminous members in their positions.

HAROLD A. CLINE. 

